Re: West Highland Terriers
Posted by:
Duffy
()
Date: March 29, 2013 03:21PM
I am a responsible Westie breeder.I have also dealt with and known Jamie for many years. She does have beautiful and national winning dogs, but several years ago she developed so many problems in her dogs that she has had to go out to Europe, specifically Germany and the Czech Republic to reinvigorate her line. Many of the dogs she is producing are good, but some of the older stuff in the pedigrees that are behind them can still produce significant health problems in puppies,and...she doesn't remove dogs that produce problems from breeding as any ethical breeder would, in my opinion. There are many good breeders out there, you just need to do some homework by contacting local and regional clubs as well as the National Westie club for referrals. Good quality dogs cost from $2000 minimum to $3000, and you should be willing to wait as much as a year when you find, go and see, and select someone you want to deal with. As far as Rescue dogs, they are a good choice if you don't object to some potential problems. All of the regional westie clubs have a rescue effort, and you can contact them in Northern New Jersey, New York, Baltimore, Pennsylvania (several) Louisville (Indiana club) Atlanta, and Tampa. They will tell you what they know or don't know about a dog that's available, and usually want about a $200 donation to help with their rescue efforts and vet bills for dogs that are rescued, they range from puppies that are less than a year old to elderly dogs. So those are the options for someone who wants a pure bred dog, one that you know what the size and general temperament will be, what it is supposed to act like and what it was bred to do, as opposed to a dog of unknown lineage, origin, and life experience that may all of a sudden behave in an unexpected negative fashion, as "Stinkbox" so aptly put it.